I didn’t grow up watching basketball outside of playing in church league as a kid, so my internship with the Wizards is where I truly fell in love with the NBA and its culture. When I finished taking proof of performance photos for partnerships, I would turn my attention to the court and start taking pictures of the players, simply just for fun. I was using non-professional equipment I wasn’t used to, a Nikon D3500 and a kit lens, so my expectations were low. But, I loved it and I became obsessed with shooting a sport I had never shot before. I began posting the photos on my photo account’s story with fun emoji combos and my signature black and white filter for the hell of it. Thus, my love for finding the perfect emoji combo for any situation was born. I never expected that photos I had taken on a whim would ever catch the attention of the athletes I was shooting, but I’m glad they did.
Basketball culture speaks to my heart. From the sport’s accessibility and how easy it is to pick up a basketball and play, to the fashion, streetwear and sneakers, to the social activism and global awareness. The NBA is truly where I want to be and I am very grateful for my experience with the Wizards for showing me that.
With the ASU basketball season beginning, I will be using that as an opportunity to shoot more basketball, sharpen my skills and build my portfolio!
